Chapter 1: A Wizard's Duty
Equestria, a grand and prosperous nation of ponies, lead from Canterlot Palace at its centre, nestled high on the side of Mount Friendship. While its outward appearance may seem grey and cold, inside this stone monolith live two little fillies; one just of school age, and the other still in swaddling. While the younger coos peacefully in her chambers, attended by a wet nurse and entertained by a pegasus mobile, her elder sister sat in a classroom with her mentor and tutor, Starswirl, the palace's court wizard.
“And that concludes our time for today on this brief overview of Equestrian history. Any questions?” Starswirl lowered the textbook from his face to observe his class, comprised of the lone filly.
The small white unicorn tapped her chin in mock thoughtfulness, looking up at the wooden-beamed ceiling. “Just one question. Why are we going over the same stuff again? It’s boring! I wanna learn something new!”
“It is important to cover the basics, Celestia. Most ponies do not memorise information after hearing it once, and I doubt you are an exception.”
“This blows.” The filly crossed her forelegs and slumped back in her chair.
“Well, like it or not, I have been charged with your education,” the elder unicorn rebuked, rounding his desk and sitting back down. “And if I say we cover the basics again, we cover the basics again.”
Celestia grunted in reply, which was not satisfactory for her tutor.
“What was that?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes, Uncle Starswirl.”
“Good. And you can expect to cover these topics again when Luna is old enough to retain information.”
“Aww!” she groaned, throwing her hooves in the air and collapsing onto her desk.
“Really, such dramatics are not fitting for a Princess of Equestria.” He sighed, massaging his brow. “But that is a problem for your etiquette tutor, not I. Now, do you have a realquestion regarding this subject?”
“War sucks,” she mumbled, her face still pressed to the desk. “Is that why we never get any griffons or changelings at the palace?”
“Quite right, and I should hope we never will. Seeing either race in the palace would be as good as a declaration of war. I shall have to explain the concept of a cold war to you for our next history lesson.”
“I don’t want to learn about war. No one should have to.” She rested her head on her forelegs, a look of sadness in her eyes.
“Perhaps, but that is simply not the reality of the world we live in.”
Princess Celestia sighed, shifting her sight towards the window on her left. The misty dew of the morning had fled, with a cold breeze now rustling through the trees of the walled courtyard outside. She wanted to be out there and running around, even if it was cold. Being a princess was so boring; nothing but ‘Celestia, do your homework’, and ‘Celestia, you need to enuuuunciate’, and ‘Celestia, stop stealing food from the kitchen’. What’s the point of being a princess if you can’t do what you want, when you want? She’d rather be a regular foal. She bet they didn’t have to do everything they were told all the time. Who would want the fate of all Equestria riding on their back, anyway? She didn't ask for this—to be born a princess. Maybe she could pass it off onto Luna when she was older?
“Alright, enough daydreaming, time to move on to Old Ponish.”
Celestia let out another frustrated moan. “But it’s a dead language!”
“Just because we do not speak it, does not mean you do not need to know it. Many ancient scrolls and spells are written in Old Ponish, ones that we will be studying in due course. So if you would kindly take out your workbook, Your Highness.”
With another exhausted sigh, the pink-maned filly pulled a pleatherbound book from beneath the desk with her yellow-hued magic and began flicking through the pages.
By mid-afternoon the small filly had completed her classes and was finally allowed to leave the palace, making a beeline to the walled garden for her precious hour of freedom. As Starswirl tidied away his teaching supplies, he looked out the window and across the mountainous vista of Unicorn Range. As beautiful as the palace could be, he couldn’t help but recognise this gilded cage for what it was. Such confines were fine for him—welcomed, even—but for a small thing like Celestia, it was woefully unfair, though necessary, for obvious reasons. While he could happily spend the remainder of his days in a library of ancient texts, it is a distinctly different matter when you have no say in the arrangement. He sighed, stashing away the final ink pot and donning his hat before returning to the thick, stone blocks of the corridor and making his way back towards his private chambers, following the central strip of plush red carpet.
Climbing the spiral stone steps of his personal tower, Starswirl’s mind turned to King Sol and the current state of affairs. Young Princess Luna was almost three months old at this point, and the King had yet to visit her once since her birth—and the Queen’s death. While there was a morbid poetry to one life entering this world as another leaves, it was a cruel trade that no child should ever be a part of. And after losing their mother to some bitter twist of fate, the girls now too found themselves without a father, who had indefinitely retreated to his chambers in grim despair. It had been a gradual decline of course, first only refusing to see his youngest daughter—presumably due to ill-placed blame—then insisting on eating alone, away from his eldest—one of the precious few moments they spent together. Court business had come to a halt after the event to allow time for mourning, but the doors to the palace remained shuttered even now. If was hard to blame him, of course. Losing one's betrothed must be one of the greatest pains in the world, not that he had any personal experience in the matter; and this mess only served to bolster his opinion that pursuits of the heart were folly. An embargo was issued to all palace staff, so no pony outside these walls knew of the events since the Queen's imminent foaling. Questions were starting to amount though, as the King had been failing his duty to raise the sun and moon on schedule; a sacred mandate bestowed upon the alicorn rulers since the first ascension. This task was now reverting back to the unicorn race's historical burden, and as the Court Wizard and Royal Advisor for Magic, it was his duty to organise and head the immense amount of horsepower required to match what an alicorn can achieve single-hoofedly. Indeed, a regular unicorn can be left bed-bound for days after a single raising, and he was fast running out of candidates within the palace, so it was only a matter of time before their secrets were revealed.
Arriving at his loft at the top of the tower, Starswirl dragged out a small worn stool from beneath his writing-desk with his magic, sitting down with an exhausted thud. A small spark from his horn lit the candles surrounding the room, casting flickering doppelgängers of his form across the floor-to-ceiling bookcases that lined the walls. As knowledgeable as he was, all the books and scrolls in Equestria would not have been enough to avoid this tragedy. Hundreds of years of history had taught him that alicorn ascendancy was a mark of immortality, and allowing such an oversight to claim the Queen had left him feeling supremely impotent. Sleep had been hard to come by these passing months, and as the King's torpor grew, so did the burdens of the next highest ranking court officials. Still, it was his duty—ney,purpose—to return order to the throne and peace of mind to his Lord... But how?
Following the Queen's death, King Sol had entrusted the raising of his daughters to his palatial aides, with Starswirl chosen as their tutor for history and the magical arts. He had never liked foals; he found them obnoxious, obstinate, needy, and a fair reason to never concern himself with desires of the flesh. Princess Luna was far too young to attend any of his classes of course, and for that he was grateful, giving him time to adjust to dealing with these little ponies. In Princess Celestia's case, it had not been an easy transition from scholar to teacher, but it was a role he had become increasingly attached to. Celestia had shown herself to be an incredibly astute filly despite her age, though the absence of both parents had taken a toll on her otherwise well-mannered behaviour as of late. He was thankful that he didn't have to bathe or feed the foals, which was left to the various maids and butlers of the palace, but their broad range of carers were no match for a loving family unit. Even Butternut Squash—their etiquette and Ponish tutor—had noticed increased reluctance to participate, which he suspects will only get worse until some closure is reached.
Lost deep in thought, Starswirl failed to hear the King's messenger phoenix fly through the small circular window in the conical ceiling of his arcane tower. Landing on the guardrail separating his floor from the stone stairs behind him, the fiery creature squawked, bringing him back to reality with a start. He swivelled on the stool to face the bird, wrinkles furrowing his brow.
“The King wishes to see me?” he asked as the phoenix preened itself, replying with another squawk before leaving the way it had entered. “I see... Thank you, Hephaestus.”
He stood from his seat, worried at this unusual summons. The King had rarely left his room since the incident, using menial staff to fetch him food and ale, but this... this was strangely formal, and yet it spoke of anything but a return to normalcy. Starswirl made his way to a wooden mannequin in his room, removing his casual, bluish-grey robe and hat, replacing them with a rich blue ensemble, accented with images of stars and crescent moons; the vestments of his role as Court Wizard.
The royal throne room lay within the heart of Canterlot Palace, separating the entrance hall ahead of it and the royal chambers behind. It was an incredibly long room, taking minutes to walk from one end to the other, and flanked by colourful stained glass murals on either side, bathing the opulent white marble flooring in a rainbow of hues. King Cosmos Hyperion Sol sat slouched on his elevated throne—much like him, one of a pair—a gaunt, asymmetrical shadow of his former radiance. Hephestus the phoenix sat on a perch between the two thrones, regally standing to attention as the two waited for the summoned pony to arrive. There was a knock at the far end of the room, and the two giant, red doors cracked open, aided by a pair of golden-armoured pegasi guard on either side. The King's cold stare lingered as a small, grey unicorn trotted down the gilt red carpet, his blue cloak flaring out as he made respectful haste to the throne. Reaching the foot of the short, ascending staircase, the wizard humbly prostrated himself.
“What news, Starswirl?” the King grumbled with his deep, baritone voice, leering from beneath his brows.
“Sire?” The unicorn stood, not quite understanding the purpose of his summons, but trying his best to accommodate his Lord's question. “Uh, well, Princess Celestia is making great strides in her studies. Her absorption of knowledge is that of a filly twice her age, and her basic magic control is already analogous to that of a common mare's.” He paused to swallow, unsure if this was what the King had asked of. “Princess Luna, is, of course, not of-”
“Do not SPEAK TO US OF THAT, STARSWIRL,” King Sol roared, causing the unicorn to recoil in fear, and Hephaestus to squawk in surprise and fly away.
“B-But my Liege, it has been three months since your daughter's birth. Do you not think you should at least lay eyes on her?” His voice quaked, taking a massive risk by mentioning this at all, but something simply had to give. “She cannot be blamed for...”
Starswirl trailed off on his own this time, suddenly feeling an oppressive aura emanate from the alicorn, almost choking him with raw emotion. Even now, at his lowest of points, the King of Equestria was truly a sight to behold. Despite the sunken eyes and scruffy stubble across his white chin, his magic-infused mane still flowed behind him like a portal into the deepest reaches of space, treating the eye to visions of other planets and nebulae the likes of which no pony has ever seen. Though his golden crown may be crooked and his red mantle lopsided, this was still the same king that in no small part won them the Great Griffon War, the same king that had filled their nation with joy at their coronation, and the same king that was deemed too powerful to use his magic by the Council of the Nine. Upsetting him could be a potentially fatal mistake these days, not just for Starswirl, but for all of Canterlot.
“You dare speak to Us of the royal family?” he growled, his head sinking lower, eyes now obscured by shadow. “Family. Hah!” he spat to himself, pressing his hooves into the throne arms angrily.
“A-Apologies, My Lord.” The wizard lowered his head to the red carpet once more, scared of what such a powerful being could do while so... unhinged. “I merely assumed you wished to be updated on the task with which you had bestowed me.” He dared to look up from the floor. “With all due respect, Your Highness-”
“WITH 'ALL DUE RESPECT', YOU WOULD NOT ASSUME ANYTHING OF YOUR KING, NOR ADDRESS US IN SUCH A CASUAL MANNER, MAGICIAN.” The King's Royal Canterlot Voice—a traditional manner of speaking reserved for public addresses and formal occasions—boomed throughout the hall, only amplified by its echo. If his anger wasn't apparent enough, the inclusion of such a slur towards unicorns clearly told Starswirl he had crossed wherever the invisible line was today. Used to mock those inept at magic, magicians were typically non-unicorn illusionists and practitioners of cheap parlour tricks—an insult twice as cutting to the Court Wizard, the highest rank of magic-user attainable besides academy tutors and Council members.
Fearful for his life, he fully knelt on the floor, digging his horn into the ornate fabric as hard as he could. “I beg forgiveness, Lord, I did not-”
“NO, YOU DID NOT.” The King stood from his reclined sitting position, now standing in front of his throne, his enchanted hair curling and weaving dramatically behind him. “KNOW YOUR PLACE BELOW US, STARSWIRL. YOU ARE OUR ADVISOR ON MAGIC, AND ON MAGIC ALONE. HOW WE CONDUCT OUR OURSELVES IS OUR CONCERN, AND NO OTHER'S.”
“Yes, My Lord.” Fearing his trek to the throne room had been to act as naught but a punching-bag, the wizard began to back-pedal towards the door, his horn scraping the floor as he went.
“WE DID NOT GRANT YOU LEAVE.”
Starswirl froze as though his life depended on it, practically hearing the jingle of dungeon chains in his ears—though that may have just been tinnitus.
“WE SUMMONED YOU FOR A REASON. APPROACH.”
The unicorn nodded the best he could against the floor, before gingerly rising and moving towards the steps to the throned plinth. He swallowed, having never felt this fear to approach the King before. Standing beside his throne had been typical for audiences with citizens and dignitaries, but this meeting had quickly become anything but typical, as predicted. Ascending the steps, he removed his pointed hat in respect and held it to his chest. With a grunt, the King slumped back into his seat and wearily waved for the wizard to come closer, which he readily obliged. Back at the entrance to the throne room, the two inner door guards looked at each other anxiously, worried for the well respected courtier.
“Starswirl,” he began in a rare, hushed tone. “Our alicorn magic is mighty, as you well know, as does the Council.” He spat the name, clearly resenting them for something more than just outlawing his magic. “We move the very sun and stars each day; the very world hangs within Our hooves. And yet as easy as it is for Us to raise the heavens, We have been unable to raise...”
His voice trailed off, though those last wisps of breath sent a chill down Starswirl's spine. He... He wasn't about to say what he thought he was... Right?
“We require your expertise in the arcane arts. You are well known for your creativity and skill in crafting new magics... We desire a spell to...” He trailed off again, biting his lip and furrowing his brow, before waving for his audience to come even closer.
The wizard dared not dissent, now leaning over the arm of the throne to listen to the King's whispers. The colour slowly drained from the pony's already ashen complexion as his jaw slacked. This... This was some sick joke at his expense, right? What the King had uttered in the lowest of voices was themost forbidden magic, not only banned by the Council of the Nine, but taboo since the very beginning of unicorn history! Starswirl couldn't help but reel back, coming dangerously close to the edge of the plinth. He locked eyes with the King, praying to Queen Starshine that he did not mean it; but the tired, empty eyes that met his gaze spoke only grim truth.
“W-What you ask for, Sire... Such a thing is-” he stammered, unable to process the reality of what he had heard.
“We do not ask, Court Wizard, We command.”
King Sol's stare pierced Starswirl's very being. This was not the same pony that had sat on this throne mere months ago, brimming with joy and love for his wife and their soon-to-be second daughter... This was a husk of that stallion, clawing at what little he could to regain that which he had lost. He knew this was forbidden. He knew why it was forbidden; and yet he still asked... No, 'commanded'. His hooves were tied. Obey the King and be sentenced to life by the Council, or deny the King and receive life—or worse—from him instead.
“You have your duty. Begone,” Sol grumbled, sliding further down in his chair, resetting to the position he had been found in.
The court wizard's mind was left blank. What should he do? What could he do? With an awkward bow, he replaced his hat and hurried back towards the looming main doors of the hall.
“DO NOT DISAPPOINT US, STARSWIRL,” the King called after him, returning to a grumble. “Your future depends on it.”
Starswirl froze at the threat halfway down the long carpet while the guards opened the door ahead of him, swallowed, then raced out just as there was enough space to pass between them. He ducked around the corner as the door was closed behind him—surprising the outer door guards—and caught his breath while finally out of the King’s sight. He had to think. Break the laws of magic, or defy the King and break the laws of the land? There really was no right answer here. He could do some research, at the very least; that probably wasn’t illegal in and of itself… maybe. He steadied himself and straightened his cape, giving an awkward nod to one of the guardponies before heading back to his tower.
Night fell not long after Starswirl returned to his attic, presumably as the King retired to his chambers, wanting to stew in the light of his fireplace. The wizard paced lines across the carpeted floor, as if trying to wear his way through the royal coat of arms below. The candles, still lit from before, flickered his anxiety-ridden silhouette ever more vividly now, providing company on his lonely march.
To bring one back from death... Impossible! There had been stories; grim tales hidden away in the darkest recesses of recorded history, each a tragic allegory of loss begetting loss. It was impossible to know the truth behind these accounts, of course, given the forbidden nature of the practice—it was rarely spoken of, let alone documented and published. Others had written about the practice academically, though every one was a treaty on why it should never be attempted, as if written by the Council of Nine themselves. He didn’t disagree, obviously; he found the mere mention of it reprehensible, as any sane pony would. Yet these were the King’s orders, sane or not, so he had little choice but to obey…
Starswirl continued deliberating for hours, pacing back and forth in his study until the stout candles around him slowly flickered out one by one. He collapsed to the floor, exhausted both mentally and physically.
“I just… can’t. I can’t!” he wheezed aloud, wearily banging his head against the flattened pile.
The bags under his eyes mirrored the years he felt he’d aged that night. It was hard to know just low long he had been pacing, given the irregular rising of the sun these days, so it may already be time to convene the next batch of unicorns for today’s rise. With a deep sigh he pushed himself off the floor and staggered towards the staircase, calves aching. He wasn’t really sure where he was going, but his tired stupor eventually lead him to the Princesses' bedroom of all places. While preparations had been made for Luna to receive her own bedroom before her birth, the subsequent events spurred the staff to keep the sisters together, if for no better reason than comfort. Starswirl cracked the door open and quietly peered inside. The room was dark and both fillies had long since been put to sleep, but he could just about make out their forms in bed. In her typical energetic manner, Celestia was was currently flat on her back and snoring, with her sheets twisted around her legs. Conversely, Luna was as peaceful as ever, swaddled comfortably and breathing softly in her crib. As darling as the sight was, his mind couldn't help but drift to the darker side of the situation, like how these two fillies would grow up without the love of their mother, not to mention the declining mental health of their father. Right now Starswirl stood at the cusp of a decision that would change all of their lives forever; but would it be for the better? This was a realm that ponies were never meant to dabble in, and yet as he looked down upon these two innocent faces, was this venture really so unjust? He would be reuniting a broken-hearted stallion with his dearly beloved, and returning a doting mother to the daughters that barely knew her. If it was within his power to right such a terrible wrong, was it not a worthy endeavour to betake? Was it not his obligation to try? Laws exist for a reason, but they are not totalities, they cannot perfectly apply to every situation, and what could be a more noble cause than restoring the queen of their land?
He closed his eyes, sighing as he gently pulled the door closed with his magic, returning to the flickering candles of the hallway. Was he really thinking this? To pervert the course of nature, even for such a just reason... If not for the country, if not for the King, doing it for those two bereft fillies made it almost feel palatable. Almost. He rubbed his forehead, feeling a migraine coming on. He would need to think on this further, but for now he needed to round up some unicorn serfs to raise the sun on time. A court wizard's work is never done.
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It should be Business, not Buisness....
Keep a space after the word now.
It should be disappoint.
Don't think I'm being rude, just tried to help. You can delete my comment of corrections. Anyway, nice story you have there! xxxx
8992562
Ah, thank you for the feedback! It seems that OpenOffice didn't spellcheck the fully capitalised words, but I've fixed that setting now.
As for spaces, my actual document is correctly punctuated, but upon pasting it into FimFiction it adds and removes spaces throughout the document, which I can't afford to check every time I paste a new version in. I'll change it, but there will be numerous errors of that kind in all of my submissions, as it's something I simply don't have the time to proofread for over and over.